Perfect Raheem Sterling hat-trick consigns Norwich City to defeat as Manchester City move 12 points clear of Liverpool

Manchester City tightened their grip on the Premier League title with a convincing 3-0 victory against Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden capped a consummately professional performance from the defending champions in East Anglia, who moved 12 points clear of Liverpool, with two games in hand.

Pep Guardiola will have been irked to see his side held 1-1 in their last away trip to Southampton, and it could have been an equally difficult afternoon had Grant Hanley been more accurate from an early corner.

It was a case of déjà vu as, in the 18^th minute, the Scotland international clattered a header off the post – it was in the exact same minute, at the exact same end of the ground that Teemu Pukki opened the scoring in their famous win back in 2019.

Yet there was no fairy-tale underdog story to be found, with City at their ruthless best and this was epitomised by Raheem Sterling, who managed to find the back of the net for just the eighth time in the Premier League this season.

A whipped Kyle Walker cross seemed to take an age to reach Max Aarons, who failed to clear the ball. It tricked to Sterling who, with no Jack Grealish to contend with, repaid Guardiola’s faith to whip a shot into the far corner.

The £100million man was left out of the squad due to a nagging shin injury, with a Champions League clash at Sporting Lisbon to contend with on Valentine’s Day.

Dean Smith has undoubtedly made Norwich slightly more difficult to play against since replacing Daniel Farke, yet there was no love lost when City came for the second half as Ilkay Gundogan carved through the Canaries’ backline to feed Phil Foden.

The England international managed to scrap it over the line despite the best efforts of Hanley, who hoped for the Goal Decision System to save him.

Goal number nine of what is supposed to be a quiet season for Sterling came just 20 minutes from time thanks to the power and determination of the indomitable Ruben Dias.

A delightful whipped cross from Oleksandr Zinchenko landed perfectly on the centre-back’s head, who selflessly sent it across the box for an unmarked Sterling to head home.

Guardiola felt comfortable handing 19-year-old midfielder Jason McAtee 15 minutes from the end of the time, unsurprising given they had 75% possession.

The rout was confirmed with just one minute of added time remaining when Hanley clattered into Liam Delap in the box, leaving referee Andre Marriner with no choicer but to point to the spot.

Sterling stepped up with the chance to slam home from the spot, but saw his spot kick saved by Angus Gunn and was forced to tap home as his blushes were spared and his perfect hat-trick confirmed.

With a 93% win rate since November in the league, City at home was unlikely to be a game Dean Smith was expecting his side to pick up points against, although a trip to Anfield next Saturday is also unlikely to provide much respite.

Instead, games against Leeds United and Burnley in March are far more likely to afford Smith’s men the chance to pick up much-needed points in their race for Premier League survival.